Chapter Twenty-Six: The Formation of the Firearm Corps

Sun Li pondered for a moment, comparing the examples given by Xiaobai with details often overlooked in past battles. He realized that archers and crossbowmen were not as effective as he had imagined. After determining the main type of infantry for the future, Sun Li turned his attention to the artillery. Driven by practicality and a certain admiration for Napoleon, Sun Li decided to equip his army exclusively with Napoleonic cannons. This would allow for standardized calibers and greatly reduce logistical pressure—after all, having uniform weapon specifications has always been a blessing for quartermasters, no matter the era.

Given that the key to future warfare lay in offensive operations, Sun Li primarily equipped his forces with field artillery. There were two types: cannons, which fired shells in a straight trajectory; and howitzers, whose shells followed a curved path. Howitzers could even fire “shrapnel rounds”—these shells were hollow, packed with bullets and a fuse. Once fired, the shrapnel would explode above enemy troops, scattering bullets over the crowd. Based on Xiaobai’s calculations, Sun Li decided to standardize his units with six-pound Napoleonic cannons for now. During battle, the movement of field artillery had to keep pace with the army’s deployment, so the cannons could not be too large. In emergencies, these six-pounders could even be rapidly concentrated by mounted artillerymen to unleash a focused barrage on a section of the enemy line.

As for larger siege cannons, he would consider them only when the need arose or when finances allowed, as their cost was simply too high.

Next came the cavalry, essential for rapidly exploiting victories and launching surprise attacks on the battlefield. Looking at the data provided by the system, Sun Li couldn’t help but wonder, “A single lancer costs nearly as much as two light cavalrymen. Isn’t it just a longer spear? Isn’t that a bit of a waste? Besides, during Napoleon’s era, weren’t light cavalry the norm?”

Xiaobai once again looked down on Sun Li, explaining, “Lancers are specifically designed to counter infantry bayonet squares. When charging these formations, lancers have a much greater impact than sabre-wielding cavalry—that is, the light cavalry common in modern times. The dense formation of lancers delivers both a psychological shock and greater casualties to the enemy than sabre cavalry. However, any cavalry charging into a forest of pikes will inevitably suffer heavy losses to break the enemy’s formation. That’s why cavalry has always been costly in battle. From the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries onward, as the traditional feudal aristocracy of Western Europe collapsed and the knightly class disappeared, there was no longer the environment for long-term, professional training with lances. Training lancers thus became even more time-consuming and expensive, whereas sabre-armed cavalry were easier and faster to train and could be produced in sufficient numbers to offset their lesser shock value.

“But with the system’s instant recruitment and training capabilities, these issues can be ignored. The cost difference is negligible, and though there is no longer a population cap after advancing to the gunpowder era, the system recommends keeping your loyal troops under one hundred thousand. After all, every man values his life, and if you exceed that number, the system can no longer guarantee that every soldier will fearlessly face death. Of course, this limit only applies to the army. Civilian officials and other non-combatants are not restricted, as long as they’re not put in mortal danger; such recruits will never betray you. Only military forces—those whose lives are at constant risk—are limited in number to ensure their resolve to fight to the death.”

Upon hearing this restriction, Sun Li no longer hesitated and decided to focus on quality over quantity. His army would consist of line infantry, Napoleonic artillery, and lancers—the rest of the more ornate or less practical units would not be recruited unless a special need arose.

Seeing Sun Li’s pragmatic attitude, Xiaobai was somewhat reassured and continued, “After the system fully merges with this world, everyone becomes an ordinary person, which doesn’t just provide a firmer foundation for rule but also means these people develop their own values and outlooks on life. For soldiers and officials, loyalty to the king trumps all else—even to the point of sacrificing their lives, provided there is a reason. You cannot arbitrarily order someone to commit suicide, or you’ll cause panic among your followers; after all, no one wants to die for nothing. As long as you don’t act foolishly, you can trust these people absolutely.

“Next are the civilians recruited by the system. They are utterly loyal to you as king or emperor. As long as they have food and can survive, your orders will always be carried out. In times of national crisis, they’ll even rise up as militia, forming the backbone of Song’s rule.

“The least reliable system recruits are the merchants. They are loyal, too, but their primary concern is always profit, and their loyalty has a price—though it’s much higher than that of merchants elsewhere. Still, the nation’s economy and trade depend on them. As long as you don’t exploit them excessively, they won’t betray you. Though they may be driven by the smell of money, they are also patriotic and worthy of being called model merchants of the new era. You can recruit as many as you need to maintain commerce, but there’s no need to go overboard.

“In sum, those recruited by the system are like citizens of a nation-state, whose loyalty to the country is paramount. The only difference is that their loyalty is to you personally—in their eyes, you are the nation itself. Loyalty to the country and loyalty to you are one and the same. I trust you now have a clear understanding.”

“Though there are some imperfections, such a country must be the ideal dream of every monarch. I know my own limits—I won’t be ungrateful for such fortune,” Sun Li sighed.

Having thoroughly understood the cost-effectiveness of his army, Sun Li began the recruitment process. He discovered that the system allowed for recruitment by unit, providing not only the soldiers but their assigned officers as well—ready for battle the moment they left the barracks. This was an unexpected delight.

Since his tactics would rely on line formations, Sun Li modeled his recruitment on Napoleonic-era organization. Line infantry would be organized by battalion, each with six companies and about six hundred men. The company was the smallest unit, and a battalion could form a single line formation. Depending on the need, one or two companies could form a line, creating three or six lines in total. Three battalions made a regiment, two regiments a brigade, and two brigades a division. The division was the strategic unit, incorporating various arms: eight to ten infantry battalions (five to nine thousand men, including support personnel), and two artillery companies (twelve six-pound cannons).

The cavalry was organized separately into reconnaissance cavalry and lancers. The reconnaissance cavalry served as scouts and for pursuing fleeing enemies—in essence, they were sabre cavalry. Lancers had a single purpose: to break the enemy’s lines at key moments.

Due to budget constraints, Sun Li recruited only three thousand lancers, forming a simple cavalry division. Even in modern Europe, cavalry units were adjusted as needed, so Sun Li did not rigidly define every level of organization.

Excited and exhilarated, Sun Li began assembling his first true modern army with the wealth seized from the orcs. At that same moment, the furious Orc Emperor, Barbaric Hammer, was leading his entire army into the Kalimdor region!